Vest-carrier

ABSTRACT

A vest-carrier having front and back generally rectangular openable chambers or pockets, each of which includes a zipper closure along an upper side thereof. The vest-carrier encompasses a torso engaging garment of soft pliable material. The garment includes a central back portion, a first partial frontal portion and a second overlapping frontal portion. The garment also includes a pair of adjustable shoulder engaging straps that include front and back portions connected by hook and loop fasteners that are adjustable for individuals of different heights. The garment may also include a waist adjustment as for example a belt with a hook and loop fastener (Velcro fastener) to accommodate individuals of different weights.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a vest-carrier and more particularly to a vest-carrier with front and back operable chambers for receiving goods to be carried by an individual wearer of the vest-carrier.

BACKGROUND FOR THE INVENTION

Devices and garments for carrying a student's books and supplies are well known and have been in use for many years. For example Tartt et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,637,076 discloses a Convertible Vest-Bag. As disclosed, a vest-bag which is convertible between a vest garment configuration and a bag configuration comprising a unit of flexible material such as leather having a lower portion sectioned into laterally continuous rectangular panels forming open ended pockets having a series of eyelets extending vertically near the longitudinal sides of the continuous rectangular panels and an upper portion extending upwardly from the lower portion and divided into a central back panel and a pair of side panels having snap fasteners at the upper ends. The side panels may be fastened to the back panel to form a vest bodice for wearing the vest-bag in a vest garment configuration. The back panel and one side panel may be folded onto the continuous panels which may then be folded one upon another and releaseably connected by a lace member passing through the eyelets to form a bag configuration. A carrying strap extends from the vest-bag in the folded position for carrying the bag.

A more recent U.S. Pat. No. 6,324,697 of Shofner discloses a student's book carrying device or vest for carrying larger texts and reference books in concealed well-balanced fashion. The vest includes inner and outer flexible generally coextensive sheets having common front, neck and hem edge margins sewn together to define a back panel and right and left front panels. Spaced armholes are formed through the inner and outer sheets and also sewn together in a conventional manner. The inner and outer sheets are also connected together along generally upright elongated intermediate margins between the back panel and the corresponding right and left front panel to define in combination with the corresponding front and hem edge margins, a back inside pocket and right and left front inside pockets. A closable elongated pocket forming slit is formed only through the inner sheet and across an upper portion of each of the pockets, each of the pockets and slits sized to fully receive a student's book placed therein and to protectively conceal each such book when the corresponding slit is closed.

A front and back book sack is disclosed in Jackson U.S. Pat. No. 6,402,003. As disclosed the front and back carrying compartments are connected by a pair of padded shoulder straps. The use of front and back carrying compartments allows a child to properly balance the weight of the items to be carried. The balance loading places less strain on the child's spinal column and would thereby reduce both acute and chronic back injuries.

Finally a balanced pack is disclosed in a U.S. Pat. No. 6,932,256 of Hale et al. The Hale et al. patent discloses a pack for carrying school books and other items with the weight substantially balanced between the front and back of a wearer. A yoke has front and back pouches, and an opening for the wearer's head. The sides of the front and back portions of the yoke are releasably connected by flaps at the sides of the back portion which engage a strip of hook and loop material on the front pouch. An auxiliary bag is detachably connected to the back pouch.

Notwithstanding the above, it is presently believed that there is a need and a potential commercial market for an improved carrier for a student's supplies and or the like in accordance with the present invention. There should be a need and a potential commercial market for a torso engaging vest or garment of soft pliable material that includes a forward and a rear compartment that distributes the weight between a front and rear compartment. In addition, the vest-carrier in accordance with the present invention is durable, capable of carrying a significant weight in books, a laptop, cell phone, papers, writing supplies, etc. that can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost and can be adjusted to fit individuals of different sizes.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A vest-carrier in accordance with the present invention includes front and back openable chambers for receiving goods to be carried by an individual wearer of the vest-carrier. The vest-carrier includes a torso engaging garment of soft pliable material having a central back portion, two side portions engaging the sides of the wearer and a first frontal portion as well as a second frontal portion. The second frontal portion overlaps the first frontal portion and the garment includes two shoulder engaging straps extending across the shoulders of an individual and attached to the central back portion and with one of the shoulder engaging straps connected to a first of the frontal portions and a first of the side portions. A second of the shoulder engaging straps is connected to the second overlapping frontal portion and the second side portion and the central back portion including a rear chamber openable along an upper side thereof with means for closing the chamber. The second overlapping frontal portion includes a frontal chamber openable along an upper side thereof with closure means for carrying a balanced load of goods to be carried by an individual wearer of the carrier vest and the second overlapping frontal portion extends across a wearer's chest whereby a frontal chamber openable along an upper side thereof with closure means for carrying a balanced load of goods to be carried by an individual wearer of the vest-carrier and wherein each of the shoulder engaging straps are connected to opposite side portions to form a torso engaging garment.

The invention will now be described in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals have been used to indicate like parts.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vest-carrier in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a vest-carrier in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention showing the central back portion of the vest-carrier shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the vest-carrier shown in FIG. 1 but showing the front overlapping portion in a partially open position;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a vest-carrier in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a top view of a further embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 a vest-carrier 20 with front and back compartments 22 and 24 is illustrated. The vest-carrier 20 is made of soft pliable material such as leather, cloth or plastic such as vinyl or even paper and is preferably made of a waterproof cloth as for example cotton or nylon, polyester or blends thereof. The vest-carrier 20 includes a vest like torso engaging garment that includes a central back portion 26, a first side panel 25 and a second side panel 27. As shown in FIG. 4. The vest-carrier 20 also includes a first front portion 28 and a second overlapping front portion 30 that overlaps the first front portion 28. The aforementioned portions can be made of one piece of material or from separate pieces of material stitched or otherwise attached together. The carrier 20 may also be made in various shapes, sizes and colors.

The vest-carrier 20 also includes a pair of shoulder engaging straps 32 and 34 that extend across an individual's shoulder. For example, a first of the shoulder engaging straps 32 is fastened to the central back portion 26 and first frontal portion 28 while the second shoulder engaging strap is attached at one end thereof to the central back portion 26 and to the second overlapping front portion 30. The shoulder engaging straps 32 and 34 may also be attached to the side portions 25 and 27. The shoulder engaging straps 32 and 34 are each fastened together i.e. the front and rear portion thereof by an adjustable fastener 32′ and 34′ as for example a Velcro strip in order to compensate for individuals of different heights. An adjustable belt, buckle or Velcro strap 35 may also be used to compensate for individuals of different sizes.

An important feature of the vest-carrier 20 resides in a front compartment 36 and rear compartment 38 that are constructed and dimensioned to carry a plurality of books, laptop computer, writing materials, cell phone and etc. It is contemplated that the weight of the materials to be carried will be divided between the two compartments so that each compartment carries a load of about equal weight. Each compartment has a generally rectangular shape with an upper edge that may be closeable by a zipper 37 or the like. The openable side is also covered by a flap 36′ for the compartment 36 and flap 38′ for the compartment 38.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention a fastener 40, as for example a hook and eye assembly is provided to fasten a lower outer corner of the first front portion to a low inner portion of the second overlapping front portion of the vest-carrier 20. A series of fasteners 42 on an outer edge on the inside of the second overlapping front portion are constructed and dimensioned to engage with complimentary fasteners such as Velcro strips on an outer side inner edge of the first frontal portion. A preferred embodiment of the invention has a weight of about 0.250 kg.

As shown in FIG. 5, a vest-carrier 21 according to a second embodiment of the invention includes a central back portion 26, a first front portion 28 and a second overlapping front portion 30. The second overlapping front portion 30 extends across a wearer's chest while the first frontal portion extends only across ¼ to ⅓ of the chest.

The vest-carrier 21 is generally similar to the vest-carrier 20 but eliminates the side portions 25 and 27 that are replaced by a belt 45 that connects the front and central back panels in a lower portion thereof. The vest-carrier 21, like the vest-carrier 20 includes a first front portion 28 and a second overlapping front portion 30 that extend across an individual's body. The second overlapping front portion 30 and central back portion 26 are also connected by a pair of shoulder engaging straps 32 and 34 that are fastened together in an overlapping manner by Velcro strips or the like.

The second embodiment of the invention also includes a pair of generally rectangular compartments i.e. a front compartment 36 and rear compartment 38. These compartments are generally similar to those in the first embodiment of the invention and serve the same purpose.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, a further embodiment of the invention includes an upper body portion 50. The portion 50 includes a first and second hook and loop fastener 51 and 52, that closes a portion that engages the shoulders and surrounds the neck of an individual.

While the invention has been described in connection with its preferred embodiment it should be recognized that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A vest-carrier with front and back openable pockets for receiving goods to be carried by an individual wearer of the vest-carrier, said vest carrier comprising: a torso engaging garment of soft pliable material having a central back portion, a first frontal portion and a second overlapping frontal portion overlapping said first frontal portion, and said garment including two shoulder engaging straps extending across the shoulders of an individual and attached to said central portion and with one of said shoulder engaging straps connected to a first of said frontal portions and a second of said shoulder engaging straps connected to said overlapping frontal portion, and said central back portion including a rear openable generally rectangular pocket and a flap covering an upper portion of said pocket, and said second overlapping frontal portion extending across an individual wearer's chest including a second generally rectangular pocket openable along an upper side thereof and a second flap covering said second generally rectangular pocket's openable upper side whereby said rectangular pockets are adapted to carry about equal loads of texts books or the like.
 2. A vest-carrier with front and back openable pockets according to claim 1 which includes a lower belt extending around the waist of an individual and connected to said vertical back portion and said frontal portions.
 3. A vest-carrier with front and back openable pockets according to claim 2 which includes front and rear portions of said shoulder engaging straps and hook and loop fastening strips adjustably connecting said front and rear portions of said shoulder engaging straps.
 4. A vest-carrier with front and back openable chambers for receiving goods to be carried by an individual wearer of the vest-carrier, said vest-carrier comprising: a torso engaging garment of soft pliable material having a central back portion, two side portions engaging the sides of a wearer, a first frontal portion and a second overlapping frontal portion overlapping said first frontal portion, and said garment including two shoulder engaging straps extending across the shoulders of an individual and attached to said central back portion and with one of said shoulder engaging straps connected to a first of said frontal portions and a first of said side portions and a second of said shoulder engaging straps connected to said second overlapping frontal portion and said second side portion and said central back portion including a rear chamber openable along an upper side thereof with means for closing said chamber and said chamber adapted for carrying goods to be carried by an individual wearer of said carrier vest and said second overlapping frontal portion including a frontal generally rectangular chamber are openable along an upper side thereof with closure means for carrying a balanced load of goods to be carried by an individual wearer of said vest-carrier and wherein each of said shoulder engaging straps is connected to opposite side portions to form a torso engaging garment.
 5. A vest-carrier according to claim 4 in which said shoulder engaging straps include front and rear portions and hook and loop adjustable fastening means connecting said front and rear portions of said straps.
 6. A vest-carrier according to claim 5 in which said chamber closure means is a zipper.
 7. A vest-carrier according to claim 4 in which said first frontal portion includes a fastener in a lower outer portion thereof and said second overlapping frontal portion including a matching fastening means on a lower inner portion thereof for fastening said first frontal portion and said second overlapping frontal portion together.
 8. A vest-carrier according to claim 4 in which said first frontal portion and said second overlapping frontal portion each include a second set of fastening means for fastening an inner portion of said first frontal portion and an outer portion of said second overlapping frontal portion together.
 9. A vest-carrier according to claim 8 in which each of said front and back chambers include an overlapping flap extending across said openable side of said front and back chamber.
 10. A vest-carrier according to claim 9 which includes means for adjusting the length of the vest garment to fit individuals of different heights and means for adjusting the girth of the vest garment to fit individuals of different weights.
 11. A vest-carrier with front and back openable chambers for receiving books, papers, writing instruments, laptop computer, cell phone and the like to be carried by an individual wearer of the vest-chamber, said vest-carrier consisting of: a torso engaging garment of a soft pliable waterproof cloth having a central back portion, two side portions engaging the sides of a wearer, a first partial frontal portion and a second overlapping frontal portion overlapping said first frontal portion and extending across an individual's chest, and said garment including two shoulder engaging straps extending across the shoulders of an individual and attached to said central back panel and with one of said shoulder engaging straps connected to a first of said frontal portions and a first of said side portions and a second of said shoulder engaging straps connected to said second overlapping frontal portions and said second side portions and said central back portion, and said central back portion including a rear generally rectangular shaped chamber openable along an upper side thereof with a zipper closure for closing said chamber and said chamber adapted for carrying a goods; and said second overlapping frontal portion including a generally rectangular portion including a generally frontal chamber openable along an upper side thereof and a zipper closure for closing a balanced supply of student's goods to be carried by a wearer of said vest-carrier and wherein each of said chambers include an overlapping flap extending over and across said openable side of said front and rear chamber. 